Get the lowdown on today’s most popular bathroom design trends from top designers Jill Goldberg and Kate Singer.

Ever wonder how top designers create inspired, relaxing retreats for their clients? We asked two—Jill Goldberg of Boston-based Hudson Interior Designs and Kate Singer of Long Island, New York–based Kate Singer Home—to reveal some of the hot trends they’re seeing in bathroom design today. Here’s what they had to say.

Patterned Floors
Mosaic tile is a smart splurge for today’s bath. With a variety of patterns and colors to choose from, it can be used to create a work of floor art or a dramatic focal point—particularly in a smaller bath.

Spa Features
There continues to be a strong movement toward baths that are light and airy and a bit spa-like in design, with deep whirlpool or soaking tubs and steam showers. Rain shower heads are also frequent requests from clients.

You’ve decided to remodel your kitchen. Now what? Not knowing where to start, many homeowners start by looking at appliances. Others start by collecting inspiring kitchen photos. Some decide they need more room. Others simply want to upgrade their current kitchen. Homeowners may find themselves in this exploration stage for a year or longer before they start interviewing kitchen designers or general contractors.

Once you’ve pondered long enough and you’re ready to green-light a kitchen remodeling project, then what? We’ll start with the first 9 steps.

Step 1: Think about what you need

This step is all about how you use your kitchen, and finding the layout and features that fit your household’s lifestyle. Get ideas from every resource possible. Think about your priorities: how many people will be cooking and gathering here, and how they’ll need to move around in it. Do you need an addition? Or can you work with your existing kitchen footprint?

If you haven’t already, start saving photos of kitchens with features that suit your style.

Step 2: Research and plan

Ready to green-light that project and take the plunge? The best place to start is by formulating what’s commonly referred to as a scope of work and figuring out your preliminary budget.

Both of these may be subject to change, so don’t feel like you have only once chance at this. Budget and scope are intertwined and often change many times during the design process as you become more educated and able to reconcile what you want and what you can afford. As a homeowner, you’re not expected to walk into this knowing what everything should cost. Remember, this is an educational process.

Step 3: Find the professionals you will need

Even if you’re going the DIY route, unless you’re building your own kitchen cabinets and doing your own electrical and plumbing, you’re going to have to work with a professional at some point.

Some people start by visiting big-box stores or cabinet showrooms where they can see everything. Many homeowners get referrals from friends or colleagues and start by hiring an architect or designer. Still others might work on their own with a builder or contractor. Pros are available to help you with everything from contracts and permits to space planning, budgets, choosing finishes and fixtures, shopping, ordering products, helping you set up a temporary kitchen, and managing your project from start to finish.

Kitchen and bathroom remodeling projects can significantly add comfort, improve functionality and increase the home’s resale value. Whichever reason drives homeowners to complete an improvement project, they need to pick one that also delivers a return on investment.

“Many homeowners believe that they need to take on a full-scale remodeling project in order to boost value or make the effort worthwhile,” said Chris Terrill, CEO of HomeAdvisor. “Not only is that not practical for many families’ budgets and time constraints, the truth is that smaller, more manageable projects can still provide a high ROI.”

Kitchen solutions

Recent data from HomeAdvisor reveals that updating the countertops and cabinets are among the top kitchen improvements homeowners are undertaking. Depending on the materials used, the projects average $3,459 and $5,853, according to HomeAdvisor’s Cost Guide. These projects are still just a fraction of a whole kitchen remodel, which averages around $22,200.

New appliances are an effective way to update and unify a room, and features such as built-in ovens, microwaves and storage for small appliances can make the kitchen appear less cluttered. When shopping, remember that regardless of upfront costs the best buy is the highest energy efficient product, for the best return on investment.

“A minor kitchen remodel is one of the best investments homeowners can make,” said Terrill. “Projects including refinishing the cabinets, updating the countertops and installing new appliances all provide a high return without breaking the bank.”

Bathroom brush-up

Although typically the smallest rooms in the home, bathrooms can still make a big statement. Even the tiniest of bathrooms can be improved to increase value, function, and overall aesthetics without a complete overhaul. That is likely welcome news to homeowners unwilling or unable to dedicate the $10,274 average price tag associated with a full bathroom remodel.

Installing a new shower or bath tops the list of bathroom renovation projects homeowners undertake. Free-standing showers and shower and bathtub combos are the most popular choices.

The projects average $4,381 and $3,453, respectively, and according to Terrill, most homeowners find the resale value worth the investment.

Updating the flooring is also a common small-scale project in the bathroom, with costs averaging $1,794. Installing a colorful tile floor is an especially appealing way to brighten up a dull bath, but if tiling the entire bathroom is out of the question, homeowners can still add flair with tile above the sink or bathtub.